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Americans 45 and older have become far more open to sex outside marriage — only they’re having it less often and saying it’s not as good, a new study reveals.

“Are you trying to seduce me — er, what’s your name again?”

Why?

It’s the economy, Cupid.

Following up on studies in 1999 and 2004, the AARP found that 22 percent of respondents 45 and over are cool with non-marital sex. That’s down from 41 percent a decade ago.

However, these same people say love comes in spurts: 28 percent said they had intercourse at least once a week, and 40 percent at least once a month — both down 10 percent from five years ago.

And only 43 percent said they were satisfied with what they’re getting, down from 51 percent in 2004. (
It’s like the old restaurant joke: “The food here is awful,” one woman says. “Yeah,” her friend replies. “And such small portions.”)
But here’s where it gets interesting: Respondents who had a partner but weren’t married had sex more frequently and with more satisfaction than respondents who were married.

As one analyst said: “Older people in nonmarried relations work harder at it and enjoy it more.”

In fact, people in their 70s and 80s said getting a little somethin’-somethin’ is still important to their happiness.

At that age, of course, the challenge becomes finding an able partner.

Think Viagra hasn’t made a difference? The survey also found that even older men, like their younger counterparts, think more about — and have — sex than women by about double. In fact, male respondents said they were five times as likely as women to say they think of sex at least once a day, and nearly three times as likely to pull into the self-service aisle at least once a week.

Warning flags were raised: A mere 12 percent said they used condoms, even though diseases can be transmitted sexually at any age.

Ironically, 20 percent of the women and 37 percent of the men said better health would improve their sex lives; 14 percent of the women and 26 percent of the men pointed to better financial situations.

But that’s not stopping others, including those taking advantage of dating services targeted to seniors. After all, we’re surviving longer, and have found better living through chemistry.

Let’s see what the numbers look like five years from now.

The AARP survey was administered in both English and Spanish, and included 630 Hispanic respondents — a bigger share than in the general population in order to provide data for a separate upcoming report.

“Hispanics are more sexually active and satisfied than the general population,” the survey reported.